Vacuum sealing apparatus.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. W. A. LORENZ.

VACUUM SEALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mum mm. 21, 1904.

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No. 866,663. PATENTED SEPT. .24, 1907.

W. A. LORENZ. VACUUM SEALINGYAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.21.190

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

li zness lmantor Maia/m $.L0remz UNITED TOFEICEQ WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF 'Il.' l t'lFOlil), CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-H ALF TO. BEECH- .NUT PACKING COMPA NY, OF CANAJOIIARIE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK,

AND ONE FOURTII T WILLIAM 11.1 HONISS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

vacc ne sasrinte .sgrs'na'rns.

1N0. 866,663. 1 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

II Application filed December 21,1904. serial lie. 237.803.

To all whom it may concern: of its stroke. Fig. 6 is a top viewof a detached presser. Be it known that I, 'ILLIAM A. LORENZ, a citizen of Fig. 7 is a top view of a detached presser in section on I the Uriitcd States, and resident of Hartford, in the the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 Fig. 8 is a sectional side view cou'nty of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have ire of a modified form of pres'ser. Fig. 9 is a view in re- 5- vented certain new and useiul Improvements in duced scale showing the air exhausting system. Vacuum Sealing Apparatus, oi-which the following is a I The sealing chamber or retort 11 may be of any suitfull, clear, and exact specifimtio'n. able form, but is preferably of a circular cross-section, I This invention relates to apparatus for hermetically inclosed by the shell 12 and supporting the jar base 13. sealing jars of the class in which the closure is ulti- It has a suitable openingior the admission and with- I i0 matelyjheld in place by the external atmospheric drawal oi the jars, and is provided witha door by which pressure due to apartial vacuum being formed within' it may be hermetically closed. the jar.., I I p I Where a number of jets are operated upon simulta 2 This invention is hereinshown and described in conneously, the temporary pressing means must be inde nection with a vacuum apparatus or retort, in which pendently movable for each jar, in order to exert upon 15 this improvedapparatus and the jars to be sealed are each one the desired amount oi pressure despite varia .ihcnnstically 'in closed, with the jar closures resting tions in the heights of the individual jars due to iii- 110 loosely upon the jars: The air is then exhausted from accuracies of size, unavoidable in the commercial the'r etort, and thus producesa vacuum around the outmanufacture of the parts which comprise the sealed side as well as onthe' inside of the The principal package.

I z offunctio'n oithis invention as thu's employed is to shut Above the base 13, and supported by it on the'posts theclosures, and to firmly seat them upon their respec- 17 is the presser chamber 16 contained betweentlie .75

, tivejars while still in vaciw, and during the time that, upper wall 18 and the lower wall 20. The lower wall. I

the atmospheric pressure is being readmitted around -i pr'ovided with holes 19' which extend through it aiid rthe jars,so'as to preclude the roadm ittedair from reen? are equal in number to the jars which the cliamberfis 25' t'erin'g 'the jars through the closure-d3. It is considered adapted to'seal at one time. Under eachj--hole 19 is a advantageiflis tosemployjor this primary seating and presser cylinder 26 secured to the wall 20 andidivided ,I holding operations pressure considerably in excess of by the partition 27 into two open ended chambers 28' i the pressure which will be subsequently exerted upon and 29, containing the pistons 34 and 35, respectively.

' the by the atmosphere to subsequently'maintain The central part of the partition 27 forms the hearing I 8 0 the seal; Inorde'r to iitilize theatmospheric pressure for the piston rod 30 which has secured to it the two and toauginent its died: for this primary sealing operapistons 34 and 35. A spring 36 is preferably provided tion, a plurality of pistonsareemploycd for each jar, to hold the-pistons in their upper position, as shown in hsviiig'an aggregate area considerab1y'grcatr than the Fig. 3. An air duct 39 connects the upper part of the .areaofthe captor closure. It is desira ble in apparatus chamber 29 above the piston 35 with the presser cham- 35-. .of this character to arrange the jars as closetogether as her 16, enabling the air pressure in that chamber to take possible in order to get as many ofthem' possible-into effect upon both the pinions 34 and 35. A duct or WM a given space, thus reducing as, possiblethe :40 connects the bottom of the upper chamber 28 below 1 space which must be exhausted in order seal a given the piston'34, with the jar chamber 11, toallow theesw'numberofjars. In the present arrangement, both the cape of any air that may leak past the piston 34. The

101 desired compactness of arrangement and the augdistance between the piston 35 in its upper position and mented pressure are secured, by employing a plurality the base 13 is such that the jars will pass freely under of pistons ior each jar, placing them one above the the piston 35 as the tray 14 is moved in or out of the other in tandem arrangement. This enables the jars chamber 11 and the pistons 35 areso disposed in regard .to be placed-closely together in trays, while still cnlto the jars and the tray 14 that each jar stands directly 46' ployinga pressure which may be two or more times the under a piston when the tray is pushed in to its proper ultimate pressure of the atmosphere upon the cap. position. it is the function of these presser pistons 34 Figure 1 is a sectional end view of a jar scaling charm and 35 to force the caps C down upon their respective bcr showing theparts in position for mglmnstion. I Fig. jars .1 after exhaustion has taken place and beiore air is 2 is a similar view and shows the position oi the parts at admitted to the jar chamber ll, thus preventing" the 5 0- thecloseoi th'e cap pressing operation. Figs I B, 4, and entrance oi any air into the inslde oi the jar through the II II 5a re sectional side views on the line 3-5 of Fig. 6, of a closure joint, before the cap is linally held in placejliy prcsscr in three different positions, Figs. 3 and 4 corrctheatmuspheric pressure. The pistons 34 and 35 tie I spending in position with Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, moved downward by admitting air into the pressings while Fig. 5 shows the presser at the extreme lower limit chamber 16 before admitting it to the jar chamber l1,

on the cap 0, and exert upon it a pressure thus establishing atmospherid pressure on the upper surfaces of the pistons 34 and 35 while a vacuum still exists below them. Each pair of pistons 34 and 35 be ing secured together by the piston rod 30 act together substantially double what it would the cylinder 26 contained ..:bnt one piston. As the inside diameter of the presser cylinder as shown in the drawings, is nearly as great as the cap C, the pressnre exerted upon the latter bytwo pistons 34 and 35 is nearly double that exerted thereon by the direct action of the atmosphere.

Th'e sealing chamber is connected with a suitable exhaust-a'ppuratus 50 through the pipes 44 and 43 con trolled by the cock 47; and the presser chamber 16 is also similarly connected through the opening 21 and 'the pipes 45 and 46. A cock 18 opens or closes communication'between the two chambers and a cock 49 controls communication with the atmosphere.

The operation of the parts is as follows:The jars J -20 with the caps loosely placed thereon are loaded into the tray Hand placed in t he sealing chamber 11 with the caps 0 directly beneath their respective presser pistons 35.: The door in the sealingchamber 11 is now hermetically closed, after which the cock 49 is closed andthe cocks 47 and 48 opened, thusconnecting both chambers" 11 and 16 with theexhaust apparatus as shown in 'Fig. 1. .After the desired degree of ,vacuum has been obtained the cocks 47 and 48are closed and thelcoclr {19" opened '(Fig. 2)-thus restablishing atmosphericppressure in the-chamber 16 while still excluding it 'from'the chamber 11. This causes the pressure to act 'onthe upper sides .oi'the pistons 34 and 35 and forces them downward, as the vacuum still exists on. the under sides of both pistons, thepressurc e2gci1ed on 35 the cap 0 when it is acted upon by the piston 35 being substantially double the atmosphbric pressure which finally holds the cap in place. Thevalve 48 is now opened thus admitting air into the chamber 11, and

releasing the pressure on the pistons which now move upward under the influence oi the springs 36, the at- 60 part 51 mospheric pressure retaining the cap in its pushed downposition, except for the slight rise due to the diminished pressure on the elastic gasket beneath. the cap.- Theextra pressure thus exerted upon the clo ure before its final retention in place by the atmospheric pressure, serves to straighten the cap in case it has become misplaced or tipped, and also to seat, the closure firmly inthe position in which it will finally rest. I For example, it has been found in practice that a jar which may have an atmospheric pressure of 100 pounds on its cap after scaling, is more liable to be sealed effectually ii the cap is subjectedto a temporary pressure of say 150 pounds before being finally left to the-influence oi the atmosphere alone. i

, It is obvious that it. is not. essential for the two pistons to be of the same diameter. In Fig. 8 is shown a mod ified form oi presser having three pistons 52. 53' and 54 secured to a piston rod 62 and fitted to a cylinder iormcd, for convenience in manufacture, in an upper and lower and 55. The cylinder is divided by the partitions and 61 into three chambers 57, 58 and 59, containing respectively the three pistons 52, 53 and 54.:

6 5, formed irr the cylinder wall leads irom the presser chamber 16 to the upper part 'otthe cylinder chambers 58 and 59 by means of the ducts 67 and 68, The chambers 57 and 58 are connected near their lower ends with the main sealing chamber 11 by the ducts 69 and 70.

A spring 63 returns the piston to their upper position after they have been operated."

During the exhausting operation the air is drawn from the tops of the chambers 58 and 59. through -the.

a pressure equal to the combined pressure on the three pistons 52, 53 and 54: It is obvious that more than three pistons may be thus combined and that it is not essential that they should all be of the same size.

- I claim as my invention:

1. in jnr senllng apparatus, the combination of a jar chamber, a jar 'presser, a plurality of connected pistons for operating the prcsser, menus for exhausting air from the chamber and from for rendmitting air to one sideof each piston, vhile maintaining a substantial degree of vacuum on the other side of each piston.

2. in jar sealin .apparatuagthe' combination of a jar clnnnbcr for receiving a series of jar's, a corresponding series of independently movable jar pressers located adJacent to their respective jars, a plurality of operating pistons for each presscr, means for-exhausting air from the chamber and from both sides or each piston, and means for readmittiug uhrirst to one side of each piston, and'then to the jar chamber-and to the other side of each piston.

3. In jar sealing appnratus, the combination of a Jar prcsser, a plurality of pistons connected therewith and arranged in tandem relation, means tor exhausting the air from beneath the pistons, and means for. admitting atmospheric pressure above the pistons, while maintaining 0. sub 'stuntial degree ot vacuum beneath the twopistons.

4. The combination with an exhausting and sealing appnruius or jars, 'of a resiliently supported jar presser, a plurality of pistons connected therewith, and means for -85. both sides of each piston, and means admitting atmosphericpressure to one side of each piston to operate the prcsser, while maintaining a substantial degree of vacuum on the other side of eachpiston.

5. The combination. with an exhausting and sealing apparatus'ior jars, of n resiliently supported jar presser, a

plurality of pistons secured together and to the pressedin tandem relation, and menus pressure to one side of each piston to operatethe presser, while maintaining a substantial degree of vacuum on the other side of each piston.

for admitting atmospheric 6. in jur scaling upparaius the combination of a jar" chamber, a resiliently supported jar presser provided with a plurality utoperniing pistons, means for exhausting at- Inuspheric pressure from the chamber and from both sides of each piston, and means for admitting atmospheric pres-' sure to one side of eachpii ton, while maintaining a substuntial degree of vacuum on theother side of each piston.

7. In jar scaling apparatus, the combination of a jar chambena series of resiliently supported pressers, a pmrality of operating pistons for each pr'esser,imeans for exhausting atmospheric pressure-from the chamber and from both sides of each piston, and means for readmitting atmosphericpressure to one side of each piston, while mainmining a substantial degree of vacuum on the other side of each piston. V

8. in jnr sculing apparatus, the combination of a jar chamber, independently movabie jnu pr'essers, n plurality of operating pistons for each-piesser, means for yieldlngly sustaining the prosscrs, menus for cihausting liil fllllli the Ichanrber and from both sides of ouch piston, and niiaans forrenduiitiiug air to one side of each piston, while maintainin a sub tantial degree of vacuum on the other side of each piston 4 i 9. In jar sealing apparatus, the-combination oi a jar chamber, a prcsscr chamber, a wall between theftwo clmi.n-

high

hers, supporting a jar presser having a plurality of pistons, compartments each containing a piston, a piston rod: to

means for exhausting alrfrum both chambers and from both sides of each piston and means for'rcadmitting air to the presser chamber and to one side of each piston while maintaining a substantial degree of vacuum on the other side of each piston.

-10. In jar sealing apparatus, the combination of a jar chamber, a presser chamber, a wall between the two chamhers supporting 'a'pluraiity of pistons, one side oi. each piston having air communication with the prcsscr chamher, and the other side of eztch'piston having air communication with the jar chamber, means for exhausting both chambers, and means for readmitting air to the pi'esser chamber.

11'; lnjar sealing apparatus, the combination of a jar chamber, a piesser chamber, a wall between the two chanr hers provided with a;cylinder divided into a plurality of 'compnrtments, each containing a piston, a piston rod .to

' which the pistons are secured. a jar prcsscr operated by which the pistons are secured, resilient means for supporting the pistons, a jar prcsser operated by the pistons, means for establishing air communication between the presscr chamber and one side of each piston, means tor establishing air communication between the jar chamber and the other side of each piston, means for exhausting both chambers, and means for readmltting air to the presser chamber. I

13. In jar sealing apparatus, the'combination of a jar chamber, a presser chamber, a cylinder divided trans; vcrseiy into a plurality of compartments, one of which is open to the jar chamber, and the other of which is open to the presser chamber, a piston in each compartment, a piston rod common to all the pistons, a jar presser secured to one of the pistons, means for establishing aircommunr Czltiull between the presser-chnmber and one side of each piston, means for establishin air communication between the jar chamber and the other side ofeach piston, means for exhausting both chambers, and means for readmitting air to the presser chamber,

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

Witnesses: I

JAS. W. GREEN, W. H. HONISS. 

